World Cup 2018: Introducing the captains

Group H

Poland's leading goal scorer

Robert Lewandowski - Poland

The Bayern Munich star is the most famous among his teammates and it is only natural that he has been chosen to lead the Polish National team. A Polish Player of the year for 7 times, he is also their leading goal-scorer, with 55 goals from 95 appearances.

He scored a staggering 16 goals in qualification, a record from the European division of the process. Lewandowski has also dragged Poland to their first WC since 2006, and they will be heavily dependent on him to get them out of a group that nobody knows what to think of.

Cheikhou Kouyate - Senegal

West Ham's Kouyate has been part of the Senegalese national side since 2012, and will captain the side in the 2018 World Cup. After having won 4 league titles and 3 cups with Anderlecht, he moved to the PL in 2014 and has remained with West Ham since then.

Kouyate has appeared in 48 matches for the national side, and will lead the side during their second ever appearance at the WC finals. Kouyate can play both as a defender and midfielder and will be expected to lead the team into the RO16 as underdogs.

Colombia's choice for captain

Radamel Falcao - Colombia

After a disastrous couple of years in the PL, Falcao is back to his brutal best with Monaco and has been chosen to lead the Colombian national team during their time in Russia. Falcao is also their all-time leading goal scorer, with 29 goals in 73 appearances.

Falcao missed the 2014 World Cup due to an ACL tear, and this will be his first WC appearance. After missing out for more than a year in the national side, he was back for the WC qualifiers, and scored 2 goals during the run.

Makoto Hasebe - Japan

The 34-year-old defensive midfielder will lead Japan in Russia, and has played as the captain since the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 Asian Cup. Hasebe has over 100 caps for the side, and has been an ever-presence in the team.

Age, unfortunately, has caught up with him as he only played 8 games in the league for Eintracht Frankfurt. The recent DFB Pokal Cup with the side might have given him a late boost, as he looks to lead Japan out of the group stages